The Indianapolis journal. [volume] (Indianapolis [Ind.]) 1867-1904, 1887-02-20
READING FOR THE DAY.
'nday School Lesson for Feb 81. 1887.

Sunday School Lesson for Feb. 81, 1887.
DESTRUCTION OF SopoM--Gen. xix 1926.
Golden Text-Escape for thy life-Gen. XIX Il.
l. The Location-Untl within a few years it
was supposed that 1.-THE Cities Of the Plain"
referred to in this lesson were situated at the
lower end of the Dead sea. But more careful
reading of the Bible and fuller study Of the
ground has led such eminent scholars as Merrill,
and Tristram, and Dawson to the conclusion
that Sodom and the four other cities named were
on the plain where the Jordan enters the Dead
sea. Major Wilson and Lieutenant Gender, of
the Palestine survey. are of the same opinion.
DR. Thomson, in THE Land and the Book still
defends the old interpretation. But the land
where the river enters has always been called
can be seen from Bethel, the point where Abra-
ham and Lot stood when the latter made his
choice OF the land 1t is said he went eastward
from Bethel, the direction of the Ghor, and not
southwark, as he would naturally have gone II
the cities were at the lower part of the Dead
sea.
2. The Doom-'sBrimstone aud fire. and the
forces OF nature were the agencies used. There
Is an immense amount of sulphur in the region.
and it is thrown up with great quantities of
bitumen from the depths of the Dead sea. 1t
would seem to have been a petroleum or btu
men eruption, caused by the explosive force OF
fire, making the great colum of smoke seen by
Abraham. This was followed by a great erup-
ton of salt water, incrusting everything about.
ibis Is. in substance, the explanation of Prlnci-
pal Dawson. after careful study of the record
and the land. The country is an "oil district"
and similar phenomenS in the physical world,
on a smaller scale, have been seen in our times.
The traveller feels to-day that there still exist
the most abundant evidences of fearful catas-
trophe. and some future earthquake may reveal
the ruins of these destroyed cities. God here
uses the forces OF nature to accomplish His pur-
poses.
APPLICATION.
/. Angels of Warning--As Christians we are
the messengers of God to men, We bear a
double message: message of sglad tidings" to
the penltent and believing; a message of fear
and terror" to the wicked. We cannot make it
glad tidings, but it is the truth, and God here
develops plan of salvation and one of destruc-
ton side by side: aud urge it, that the light of
| to-day would have led Sodom to repentance, and
so have ssvcd the city. Be faithful to this part
| OF your cssage.
| 2 The Type of the Doom Of Sinners-It is
used in the Bible type of Gods wrath. See
Deut xxx %; xxi. 80; Isa i, g. xiii. 10; Matt.
x ID; XII. 2l-24; Luke xviii 90 jude i, Z. SINNERS
| suffer the vengeance of eternal fire."
B. Confused Moral Serse-Lot living in
Sodorn had become used to the sins of the peo-
pie, and had lost his keen moral sense Of their
| sin against God And so today very much OF
| the socalled hberaity of thought, Of advanced
| opinions illustrate the confused moral sense
| that fails to sin God sees it.
| a. Lot PluckeG from the Fire-He was saved
but at the cost of almost everything dear to him
| He was saved, blu. vino would deliberately ch ooss
| to be saved in that way2 Such choice would
| imply genuine inhabitant Of Sodom without
moral nature large enough to be saved